The Allentown Neighbor September, October, November 2012 Volume 47, Number 3 Published quarterly by the Allentown Association Inc., 14 Allen St., Buffalo, New York 14202 (716) 881-1024. Email, [email protected]. Website, www.allentown.org New plans approved for Delaware-Virginia By Pete Carroll A new design for a $2-million office and residential building at the northwest corner of Delaware Ave. and Virginia St. has been approved by the city Preservation and Planning Boards and a construction start is forecast this fall. The new design calls for nine apart- ments on the portion of the three-story building facing Virginia St., including studios, one and new-bedroom units. The building’s corner at the intersection will feature a glass tower. New plans for an office and apartment building at 468 Dela- The new design for the 20,000-square- ware Ave. at Virginia St. include brick and terra-cotta exterior. foot building is more traditional than plans approved in a split vote site of the Cloister restaurant. with no smoking or outdoor mu- by the Preservation board last Septem- The carriage house, occupying sic after 11 p.m. weeknights and ber. The exterior will be brick and terra the northwest part of the site on midnight weekends, and a dance cotta, Karl Frizlen, architect for the de- Holloway Alley, is the only por- license. veloper, Scott S. Croce, told the Plan- tion of the Mark Twain home still Please turn to page 6 ning Board July 17. standing. A driveway from Dela- The board approved the plans alt- ware Ave. to Holloway Alley will hough the Allentown Association asked allow part of the carriage house Inside this issue that a decision be deferred until the As- to be visible from Delaware Ave. First Fridays Page 2 sociation could review the plans. “Parking is tucked away un- Plans for converting the 1860s car- derneath the building,” Karl Secrets tour of homes , riage house to three 850-square-foot Frizlen said. Business news Page 3 apartments were approved by the There will be three garages on Preservation Board Aug. 9. the Virginia St. side of the main Tree plantings Page 5 Plans call for two new doors and two building, 11 car ports on the rear new windows on the east side of the car- side of the main building, and Calendar Page 6 riage house. eight parking spaces around the The site was the home of Samuel L. carriage house. Allen St., Almanac Page 7 Clemens (Mark Twain) and his bride in In other preservation news: 1870-71. The house was destroyed by The Funky Monkey bar at 20 Allentown’s history Page 8 fire in 1963 and was subsequently the Allen St. received permission from the city for use of its patio The Allentown Neighbor Fall 2012 Page 2 First Fridays enhanced by collaboration with other groups By Barbara Hart brass and percussion performance. It was a great night, with over 300 people in attendance. Organizers The Aug. 3 First Friday brought new possibilities hope to repeat the event next year and excitement to Allentown as the Greater Allen- Look for more fun street events, as well as the in- town Galleries Association (GAGA) collaborated creased participation of local businesses and restau- with GO Buffalo and the Infringement Festival to pre- rants as First Fridays continues to grow. Autumn First sent "Artists and Cyclists." Fridays will be Sept. 7, Oct. 5, Nov. 2. Each month, Allen St. was closed between Franklin St. and Del- we publish a schedule of activities on our web page: aware Ave. so that cyclists could freely and safely try www.firstfridaysallentown.com. Don't miss these op- out GO Buffalo's new Bike Share bike, as well as cy- portunities to enjoy the rich culture of our area: free cle along the First Fridays gallery path for our usual gallery openings, live music, shopping, and more. FF receptions. Local artisans were also on tap with Barbara Hart is Greater Allentown Galleries Asso- sidewalk tables and imaginative wares. The event ciation chairperson and an Allentown Association burst to life when the 12/8 Path Band began a roving vice president. First Church plans to stay, lease some space and seek grants. First Presbyterian Church has decided to focus on church business manager. The church is also seeking continuing in its own building . The church, Buffalo’s grants to restore and maintain the building. It has re- oldest and celebrating its 200th anniversary this year, ceived a $3,000 grant from the New York Landmarks had considered earlier this year options to vacate its Conservancy to develop a restoration plan for the tow- landmark sanctuary on Symphony Circle. er, roofing and portions of the exterior. The Rom- By leasing some space to outside organizations, the anesque Revival structure, designed by E. B. Green church hopes to be able to continue to maintain and and William Wick and completed in the 1890s, is on occupy the building, said Christina Trachtenberg, the National Register of historic sites Susan Lenahan CRS, CBR, Broker Associate Agent of the Year 2007 through 2010 (716) 864-6757 431 Delaware Ave, Buffalo E-mail:[email protected] Page 3 The The Allentown Neighbor Fall 2012 Secrets 2012, with an exciting range of sites, is Sept. 15 the tour. Participants may buy tickets if they have By Elizabeth Licata not already done so and pick up their tour booklets. They can also sign up for a guided tour of the E.B. With a starting point at the magnificent Twentieth Green-designed TCC, which just received National Century Club, the decades-old home tour that has be- Landmark status. The Twentieth Century Club con- come one of Allentown’s signature events will be tains, among many other details, a central court with held Sept. 15 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Over the years, ionic columns and leaded glass skylights, a music Secrets has room with murals by Alice Glenny, an oval ballroom evolved to in- with an adjoining loggia, and several beautifully- clude apartment appointed smaller reception rooms. It is one of Buf- buildings, non- falo¹s least-seen treasures, and a rare opportunity for profits, offices, Secrets tickets holders, as the Club is rarely opened and other com- for any kind of tour. mercial build- As always, a free wine tasting will be held at the ings as well as Hamlin House on Franklin during the tour. private resi- Tickets for Secrets can be purchased through dences. Tickets.com, at the Quaker Bonnet at 175 Allen Participants St.and through the Allentown.org website. Tickets in the tour get a are $20 in advance and $25 the day of the event. The rare glimpse of Secrets committee is led by co-chairs Elizabeth Lica- the interior of ta and Sandra Sieminski, with help from Jonathan historic struc- White, Gretchan Grobe, and Melissa Dayton. Visit tures, instead of Allentown.org for more information. just an exterior Elizabeth Licata is a former Allentown Associa- walking tour, tion president. which is what is usually offered. The Twentieth Annual meeting is Oct. 9 The Twentieth Century Club- Century Club at house will be the base for the 595 Delaware The Allentown Association’s annual meeting Sept. 15 Secrets tour. kc kratt Ave. is the start- will be Oct. 9 at 7 p.m. in the Allendale Theater, photo. ing point and 203 Allen St., preceded by a social hour with light headquarters for refreshments in the theater lobby at 6 p.m. Three new businesses open, another to come New businesses in Allentown: massage therapy, hypnotism, call 884-2626, email, —Buffalo Cakery, offering baked goods, was [email protected]. opened in June by Justina and Brian Adams at 94 — Elmwood Beverage Center has been opened at Elmwood Ave. at Allen St. Open Tuesday toThurs- 161 Elmwood Ave., beer and soft drinks, by Lahki day noon to 8, Friday, noon to 9, Sunday, noon to 6. Singh, owner of adjacent Elmwood Liquors. Dave. Call 882-2211, see www.thebuffalocakery.com. Salatka is manager. —Coming Home Buffalo Center for Holistics and Chris Connolly hopes to open Madonna’s Italian Arts, 140 Elmwood Ave., was opened by Toni Mel- Restaurant and Wine Bar at 488 Franklin St., at Allen vuk in June, offerings art, jewelry and other products, St., in October. The Allentown Neighbor Fall 2012 Page 4 Elmwood Village School ready to move to Days Park Elmwood Village Charter School is ready to preparing the Days Park building for the school to move to the former School 36 at Days Park and Cot- move in, said John Sheffield, Elmwood Village tage St. on Sept. 4 when school reopens for its 300 School director. youngsters in kindergarten through eighth grade. The school hopes to reach an agreement with the Autism Services Inc., a state-funded non-profit Days Park Block Club to permit use of the school organization, plans to sublease the building at 124 playground after school hours, but with it locked at Elmwood Ave. which Elmwood Village School is va- night, he added, cating, its executive director, Veronica Federiconi Elmwood Village School purchased the former said. The program will enroll 30 autistic young people School 36 from the city in 2011. It was built in 1957 to start, she said. The agency provides care and edu- and closed in 2009 as a Buffalo public school. The cation for autistic children in Williamsville and adults school opened in Allentown in the former Telephone in North Buffalo.. Building leased from Savarino Construction Services As The Neighbor went to press, contractors were Corp.